Now, driving tests at night to shorten waiting time

Now, driving tests at night to shorten waiting time

Sidhartha.Roy@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:15.08.2021 

Want to get a permanent driving licence? You may have to wait for a period of two weeks to more than two and half months for a slot, depending on where you live in Delhi. The Delhi government now plans to conduct driving tests at night to shorten the waiting time.

While Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) are on their way out with the Delhi government offering ‘faceless services’ for all transport-related transactions, applicants would still need to visit an automated driving test track to get a permanent driving licence.

To curb the spread of Covid-19, the Delhi government’s transport department has reduced the number of slots offered at test tracks to ensure social distancing. This, however, has resulted in a long waiting period to appear for a driving test in most of the busy zones. If one fails the stringent test at the automated tracks, it means an even longer waiting period.

As on Saturday, August 14, one can get a slot for a driving test on August 28 at the tracks near Sarai Kale Khan (South) and Surajmal Vihar (East II) RTOs. Slots at Mall Road (North) and Sarai Kale Khan (Central) are available on September 9 and 22, respectively. However, at most other busy RTOs, the latest slots are available from October 1to 10 at Rajouri Garden (West II), Mayur Vihar (East), Rohini (North West II) and Vasant Vihar (South West) and as late as October 27 at Loni Road (North East).

“The idea has been in the pipeline for some time now and many discussions have taken place in the department. What is first required to make the automated driving test tracks operational at night are high-mast lights,” a senior transport department official said.

“Apart from sensors on the ground, cameras on high poles also capture the driving test. Both are needed for a computerised analysis and then finding if an applicant has cleared the test or not,” the official stated.

“Very powerful lights are required at the centres to ensure that the cameras are able to capture images as efficiently as they do in daylight. Once the high-mast lights are installed, an assessment can be made of the viability of carrying out driving tests at night,” he added.

At present, driving tests start between 8 and 8.30 am at test tracks and go on till around 2 pm, till all the applicants for the day have given their test. “There will be separate shifts in the near future to cater to more demand while ensuring there is no crowding at test centres. Initially, the timing of the tests will be increased to 8 pm and if possible, even up to 10 pm in the next phase,” he said.

STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION: The transport department has reduced the number of slots offered at test tracks to ensure social distancing